Sleeve valve



R. B. LAWS SLEEVE VALVE Jan. 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27,1946 A OBE/ P7 5. man/ 5;

R. B. LAWS SLEEVE VALVE Jan. 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27,1946 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Y V w Patented Jan. 31, 1950 SLEEVE VALVERobert B. Laws, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to B. H.

Hubbert & Son, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of MarylandApplication February 27, 1946, Serial N 0. 650,398

Claims.

This invention relates to a sleeve valve which is particularly adaptedfor use as an element of a kettle or tank used for processing food andother products by cooking the same for a predetermined length of time.

When an outlet pipe of usual formation is used in conjunction with aconventional gate valve or globe valve, a small amount of the productbeing processed lies dormant in the outlet pipe between the valve andthe inside surface of the vessel and becomes burned or overprocessed asit is not properly mixed with the remainder of the product in thekettle. In addition, product held between the valve and the outside ofthe jacket remains unmixed and underprocessed as it is not subjected tosuificient heat to process it.

In order to eliminate the under or over processing mentioned above, theoperator is compelled to draw off an amount of the product beingprocessed equal to the amount held within the outlet pipe and pour thesame back into the kettle for reprocessing. This must be intermittentlyrepeated until the processing operation is completed, thereby causingmuch additional labor by the workmen and also involving danger of theproduct not being properly processed.

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide a steam jacketedkettle or tank with an outlet tube and valve so formed that pocketing ofproducts being processed will be prevented and undercooking orovercooking prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube and sleeve havingopenings so formed and arranged that when the sleeve is turned in thetube or barrel in a closing direction, a shearing action takes placewhich will sever any solid or semisolid material which may be caught inthe openings and thereby allow portions of the material protrudinginwardly into the sleeve to be cut oil and pass through the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sleeve which will beshifted upwardly as it is turned in a closing direction and its upperend brought onto such close fitting engagement with a cap closing theupper end of the tube or barrel that a tight closure will be formed atthe upper end of the sleeve and leakage of liquid into the upper end ofthe sleeve prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outlet valve of theimproved construction so formed that it may be installed in a steamjacketed kettle or tank of conventional formation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken vertically through a kettle or tankequipped with an outlet valve of the improved construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the improved valveand showing the valve closed.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the valve opened.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the upper portionof the valve along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section view taken transversely through the valve alongline 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the inner tubeof the valve.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 'I1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6.

The kettle which is indicated in general by the numeral l is of aconventional construction and has the usual jacket 2 providing space 3into which steam is delivered to heat the kettle or tank I. There havealso been provided the usual legs 4 for supporting the kettle. At thecenters of the kettle and the jacket are formed aligned openingssurrounded by depending flanges 5 and 6 and through these flanges ismounted a bushing I which is formed of strong metal and welded to theflanges and has its upper portion 8 internally thickened and threadedfor engagement with the threaded portion 9 of a tube constituting theouter barrel ID of the improved valve.

The valve is of suificient length to protrude upwardly into the tank Iand downwardly from the bushing I, and the lower end of the tube orbarrel is externally threaded so that a pipe may be connected with itfor delivering processed material to a suitable receptacle. If sodesired, the pipe mentioned may be omitted and a receptacle placed underthe valve. An inner sleeve or tube ll fits snugly within the barrel orouter tube [0 and the upper portion of this inner tube is of reduceddiameter to provide an annular shoulder I: for limiting upward movementof the inner tube by engagement with an annular shoulder I3 formedwithin the barrel. Below the shoulder [2, the inner sleeve or tube isformed with a circumferentially extending groove l4 in which sealingrings I5 are mounted so that leakage can not occur between these ringsand the lower end of the inner sleeve.

The upper end of the barrel is internally threaded to receive a cap l6having a smooth lower end face and the upper end of the inner sleeve isformed with a bevelled edge face l1, thus 3 providing the inner sleevewith a sharp edge about its upper end for engaging the lower or innerend face of the cap and forming a tight joint when the inner sleeve isshifted upwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to that of Figure2. Openings i8 and I9 are formed through upper portions of the innersleeve and the barrel: Illand so spaced from each othercircumferentially of the sleeve and the barrel that by turning the innersleeve its openings l8 may be moved from a position between the openings19 of the barrel for closing the valve to a position for registeringwith openings I9 and opening the valve. The openings to and i9 areelongated longitudinally of the sleeve and the barreland ofsubstantially elliptical shape and since the inner sleeve is turned inthe outer barrel and shifted longitudinally during this turning movementedges of the openings will move in shearing relation to each other asthe inner sleeve is moved from the opened position totheclosed positionand any solid or semisolid material which may be lodged through theopenings will be severed and carried downwardly through the: innersleeve by processed material flowing through the valve as it is shut. Asleeve of perforated metal which constitutes a screen or strainer 28fits about the portion of the barrel which protrudes upwardly into thekettle and prevents large solid matter from entering the openings is ofthe barrel and this screen or strainer is formed about its upper endwith an inwardly extending annular flange 2| which fitsclosely about thebarrel and holds the screen in spaced relation thereto. A pin 22 carriedby the barrel projects radially therefrom for engaging over the flange2i and holding the screen in place about the barrel and since the flange21 is formed at a point about its Cii' Glllfi-- fei'ence with a radiallyextendingslot 23 the strainer may be set in place about the barrel withthe pin 22 passed through the slot in". the strainer then turned to movethe slot from under re pin and thusallow the pin to extend across an innbroken portion of the flange and eifectiveiy hold the" screen in place.

In order to turn the inner sleeve to the opened and closed positionsthere has been provided a handle 26 formed with a longitudinal bore toreceive a rod 25 which has its inner end portion projecting from thehandle and threaded, as

shown at 25; A slot 2? is formed about the barrel 5 for a portion of thecircumference thereof and this slot extends spirally or diagonally, asshown in Figures 2 and 3, so that its edges con stitute cam surfaces forengagement by a; roller 28 carried by a connector 29. The connector isscrewed into an opening 36 formed in the inner sleeve and its outer endis formed with a threaded socket 3| to receive the threaded end or therod 25; A hub or ferrule 32' fits about the portion or the connectorwhich protrudes from the barrel and when the rod 25 is tightened theouter end of the hub will be firmly grippedbetween the handie and theouter end of the connector: and the flanged inner end of the hub will bepressed against a collar or sealing ring 33 which fits snugly about thebarrel in covering relation to the slot 21, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.By pro+ vidingthe ring or collar dirt will be prevented from gatheringin the slot. The rings iii prevent any processed material from workingdownwardly between the sleeve and the barrel and out through the slot.Since the slot 21 extends diagonally' about the barrel movementof thehandle to turn-the inn'er sleeve in the barrel will cause the sleeve tobe shifted vertically or longitudinally in the barrel and the bevelledupper end of the sleeve moved into sealing engagement with the inner endof the cap as the sleeve is turned from the opened position of Figure 3to the closed position shown in Figure 2. By removing the handle and theconnector the inner sleeve may be withdrawn through the lower end or thebarrel and since the cap may be unscrewed trom the barrel and thecylindrical screen also easily removable the entire valve may be easilyand quickly taken apart for thorough cleaning.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved sleevevalve, the operation thereof will be readily understood and it will beseen that I have provided a comparatively simple, inexpensive andefficient means for carrying out the various objects of th invention.

While I have particularly described the ele ments best adapted toperform the functions set forth, it is apparent that various. changes inform, proportion and in the minor details or construction may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theprinciples or" the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In:combinationwith a kettle formed throughits bottom with an opening,.and'a. bushing inthe opening internally threaded from its upp r end; a valvecomprising a barrel extending vertically through the bushing in threadedengagement therewith with portions above and below the bushing,v theprotruding upper portion of said barrel being formed withcircumferentially spaced openings, a cap in threaded engagement with theupper end. of said barrel, a tube fitting snugly in said barrel andbeing rotatable and slidable longitudinally therein and having its upperportion formed with side openings for registering with the openings ofthe barrel when the tube isi turned.

to an opened position, the openings of the tube and the barrel beingsubstantially elliptical in shape and elongated longitudinally of. thetubeand the barrel, a screen about the protruding up-- per portion ofsaid barrel, an: interval shoulder.

about the upper end of said barrel, anexternal shoulder about said tubedisposed under the opening or the tubeand overlapped by the shoulder ofthe barrel, sealing rings about the tube below its shoulder, a portionof the barrel. below the bushing being formed with a slot extendingdiagonally for a portion of the circumference of the barrel,- and ahandle for turning said tube extending. laterally from said barrel andhaving an attaching member passing through the slot and connected withthe tube, edges of the slot constituting cam surfaces for acting'upon'the attachimt, member Of the handleand shifting the tube vertically tomove its upper end into tight sealing engagement with. the inner endface ofthe cap as the tube is turned inv a closing direction and movethe shoulder of the tube into close contacting engagement with the underrace or the shoulder of the barrel.

' 2. In combination with a kettle formed through its bottom with anopening, and a bushing in the opening internally threaded from its upperend; a valve comprising a barrel mounted vertically through the bushing:with portions pro -f jectirrg above and below the bushing, a. capclosing the upper end of the barrel, the protruding upper portion of thebarrel being formedwith an outlet opening, a tube fitting snugly saidbar rel and being rotatable in the barrel and slldable verticallytherein and formed with opening for registering with opening of thebar-rel when the tube is turned to an opened position, the lower portionof the barrel being formed with a slot extending circumferentiallythereof, means for forming a liquid tight joint between :portions of thetube and the bar-rel below the opening of the barrel and disposeddiagonally to provide cam surfaces, and .a handle having a mountingmember passing through the slot and engaged with the tube whereby uponmoving the handle circumferentially of the barrel to turn the tube to aclosed position the tub-e is shifted vertically and its upper end movedinto closing engagement with the inner face of the cap and sealedthereby.

3. A valve comprising a barrel adapted to be mounted vertically throughthe bottom of a container with its upper portion projecting into thecontainer and its lower :portion projecting downwardly therefrom, saidbarrel having its upper portion formed with side openings, a closure forthe upper end of said barrel, a tube in said barrel rotatable andslidable vertically therein and formed with side openings forregistering with the openings of the barrel when the tube is turned toan opened position, means for forming a liquid tight joint betweenportions of the tube and the barrel below the openings of the tube andthe barrel, a handle for turning said tube in said barrel, and saidbarrel being provided with cam means for acting upon the handle andshifting the tube upwardly and moving its upper end into sealingengagement with the closure when the tube is turned to a closedposition.

4. A valve comprising a barrel adapted to be mounted vertically throughthe bottom of a container with its upper portion projecting into thecontainer and its lower portion projecting downwardly therefrom, saidbarrel having its upper portion formed with side openings, a, closurefor the upper end of said barrel, a tube in said barrel rotatable andslidable verticall therein and formed with side openings for registeringwith the openings of the barrel when the tube is turned to an openedposition, companion shoul- 'ders carried by the tube and the barrelbelow the openings therein, sealing rings about the tube below theshoulder thereof, said barrel being formed with a slot extendingcircumferentially of the barrel and disposed at an incline to providecam surfaces of edges of the slot, a connector carried by said tube andprojecting outwardly through said slot, a roller upon said connector inthe slot, a hub about the protruding outer portion of said connector, ahandle, and a rod passing longitudinally through the handle and throughsaid hub and having a threaded end screwed into a threaded socket formedin the connector, said handle constituting means for turning the tube inthe barrel, and said roller being engaged with the cam surfaces of theslot for shifting the tube vertically in the barrel and holding itsupper end in sealing engagement with the closure and its shoulder inengagement with the shoulder of the barrel when the tube is turned to aclosed position.

5. A valve comprising a barrel adapted to [be mounted vertically throughthe bottom of a container with its upper portion projecting into thecontainer and its lower portion projecting downwardly therefrom, saidbarrel having its upper portion formed with side openings, a closure forthe upper end of said barrel, a tube in said barrel rotatable andslidable vertically therein and formed with side openings forregistering with the openings of the barrel when the tube is turned toan opened position, means for forming a liquid tight joint betweenportions of the tube and the barrel below the side openings of the tubeand the barrel, and means for turning the tube in the barrel andshifting the tube vertically to move its upper end into sealingengagement with the closure when the tube is turned to a closedposition.

ROBERT E. LAWS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 679,940 Bromley Aug. 6, 19011,296,239 Van Meter Mar. 4, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date143,683 Austria 1935

